Colgate Directory

Rebecca Shiner

My research lies at the intersection of personality, developmental, and clinical psychology.

I study personality development across the life span and address questions like these: Do children exhibit personality traits comparable to those observed in adults? To what extent is personality continuity observed across time, and under what circumstances does personality change? Does personality predict how individuals negotiate important life tasks, such as academic achievement and the cultivation of positive relationships with friends and romantic partners? How does personality functioning leave individuals vulnerable to the development of psychopathology? What factors enable children and adolescents with challenging personalities to flourish as they develop?

In addition to my work on personality development, I research two other topics. First, I have written extensively about personality disorders in youth. Second, I study the internalizing disorders of depression and anxiety, including the etiology of these disorders and their current manifestations.

I am trained as a clinical psychologist and have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. I completed a clinical psychology internship at the University of Rochester Medical Center. My clinical experience has an important influence on my teaching and research.

Shiner, R. L. (2010). Mapping the landscape of personality in childhood and adolescence. Social Psychology and Personality Compass, 4, 1084-1097.

Shiner, R. L. (2009). The development of personality disorders: Perspectives from normal personality development in childhood and adolescence. Development and Psychopathology, 21, 715-734.

Shiner, R. L., & Masten, A. S. (2008). Personality in childhood: A bridge from early temperament to adult outcomes. European Journal for Developmental Science, 2, 158-175. Special Issue: Current Trends in the Study of Child Temperament.

Shiner, R. L. (2005). A developmental perspective on personality disorders: Lessons from research on normal personality development in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Personality Disorders, 19, 202-210.

Shiner, R. L. (2005). A developmental perspective on personality disorders: Lessons from research on normal personality development in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Personality Disorders, 19, 202-210.

Other

Associate Editor: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2015/2016

Consultant: DSM-5Working Group on Personality and Personality Disorders, 2008/2013

Consultant Editor: Journal of Research in Personality, 2003/2005; Journal of Personality, 2008/2011; Social Psychological and Personality Science, 2009/2010; European Journal of Personality, 2001/2012; Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2009/2013; Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 2009/2014; Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 2008/2011

Secretary-Treasurer: Society for Personality and Social Psychology 2009

Board Member-at-Large: Association for Research in Personality 2007/2010